Characterisation of a new virulent phage isolated from Hainan Island with potential against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious life-threatening pathogen. The rise in P. aeruginosa resistance rates has renewed interest in phages as an alternative therapeutic approach for treating bacterial infections. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the first Pseudomonas phage, vB_PaP_HN01, isolated from Hainan, the only tropical island in China. The lytic rate of this phage against P. aeruginosa reached 64.3 % (27/42). Under the optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1, more than 90 % of phage particles absorb onto the host cell within 10 min, with an eclipse period of around 15 min, and a high titer phage production (10¹¹ PFU/ml) within 90 min was demonstrated. vB_PaP_HN01 maintains a robust titer after 1 h exposure to pH values and temperatures (up to 50 °C). Genome annotation revealed that vB_PaP_HN01 did not contain drug-resistance or lysogeny-associated genes. It can effectively inhibit the formation of biofilms of MDR P. aeruginosa and eliminated aggressive biofilms (removal rate about 70 %). In the in vivo infection models, it was demonstrated that the survival rate and lifespan of Galleria mellonella larvae were increased alongside the injection of vB_PaP_HN01. These data revealed the potential of vB_PaP_HN01 against P. aeruginosa in clinic.